94 



eating the foliage of young nursery trees of the citrus group; the 

 beetles were found on apricot, pear, and other trees, and attack on 

 persimmon was noticed. Our correspondents observed that the ])eetles 

 concealed themselves behind or between the leaves, or in other retired 

 places, and when disturbed suddenly dropped to the ground and 

 feigned death to escape observation, which they were easily able to do, 

 owing to their color bearing so close a resemblance to the dry soil. 



September 10, 1896, a communication was received from Mr. David 

 A. Horton, National City, CaL, that the insect was depredating on 

 orange in that vicinit3\ 



SUMMAKY OF FOOD AND OTHER HABITS. 



In addition to roses this species, as has ))een previously related in 

 treating of its recorded history, feeds upon geranium. Hibiscus, 

 Dractena, orange, lemon, cape jessamine (Gardenia), Java plum, 

 Achyranthes, Abutilon, Plumbago, Azalea, "Cissus,'' '"inch-plant," 

 carnations. Begonias, lilies, primrose, Hilo grass, oak, camellia, 

 palms, and canna. Tea roses appear to be particular!}^ siLSceptible to 

 attack, and geranium seems to be preferred next after roses. The 

 beetles are of nocturnal habit, feeding so far as known only after 

 dusk. During the day they are generally (piiot, resting in more or 

 less concealment under or among the leaves of their food i)lants or 

 clinging to the twigs or smaller branches in such positions as not to 

 be readily observed. They are quite active at night and feed vora- 

 ciously. When disturljcd they '''play 'possum," after the manner of 

 many other Coleoptera, and particularly beetles of the same family, 

 by dropping to the ground and drawing their legs and antennte tightly 

 to their bodies. As they often remain motionless for a considerable 

 time and as their color is so very similar to that of the earth a))out 

 their food plants they readily escape notice. They feed principally 

 upon the leaves, but their greatest injury is accomplished by severing 

 the leaves more than by the quantity of foliage consumed. 



The life history of the insect as worked out at this office several 

 years ago is approximately as follows: 



The eggs are deposited in tiattencd batches consisting of several 

 contiguous rows, each batch containing from ten to sixt}^ cggs- The 

 female, as in another species of the same famil}', Avhich has been 

 treated in earlier Indletins (see account of JEjjiccerus iiiihricatus in 

 Bulletin 19, pp. 62-67), has the habit of secreting her eggs by thrust- 

 ing them l)etween the loose bark and the stem, especially at the base 

 just above the ground. In upward of twent}" batches examined the 

 eggs were found to have been thus concealed, either between the loose 

 bark, as described, or in some similar crevice. More rarely they are 

 deposited upon the ground between the earth and the main stem of 



